Radio timing device



April 2, 1940. s. H. DE LARM RADIO mums DEVICE Filed llay 27, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invzrfrur' yum APPil 1940. I s. H. DE LARM I 2,195,642

RADIO TIMING nnvzch Filed May 27. 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 2 WTIIESS I Inventi- April 2, 1940. e. H. DE LARM mm ro TIMING DEVICE Filed May 27, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE iClaims.

My invention relates to a radio time switch for automatically controlling radio power-lineconnectlon and particularly to an instrument having provisions whereby selected programperiods are automatically turned on and off.

The principal object of my device is to provide a means for automatically turning the radio on and off according to any predetermined selection of quarter-hour programs or programs comprising any number of quarter-hour periods.

Another object of major importance is the provision of mechanism that will make the on or of! connection instantaneously.

A further object is to provide a make-andbreak mechanism aifording an abundant cross sectional area at all points of the electrical circuit at all times, including the beginning and termination of a selected program period whereby to eliminate excessive concentrated resistances and consequent heating and burning of the makeand-break contacts.

Another object is the provision of means for effecting the closing of the power circuit slightly prior to the exact beginning of the time period selected and also providing means for breaking the circuit slightly after the exact ending of the period selected.

An additional object is to provide a convenient arrangement of selective switches which are positioned in co-ordinated relation to the conventional division of the ordinary 12-hour clock dial whereby advance selection of desired program periods may be easily located for either the day or "night" revolution of the 12-hour clock.

A further object of my invention is to provide a master switch for turning the current on at the beginning of any selected period and a similar master switch by which the circuit is broken at the end of such period regardless of the number of quarter-hour intervals included in the selected period and without a break in the circuit between adjacent selected quarter-hour intervals.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, the accompanyin drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective-view of my device.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary median vertical sectlonal view showing the co-relation of parts.

Fig. 3 is a. front elevation of my device. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view showing the relative position of brushes and commutators at 12 oclock noon. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatlcal view showing the po- (01. zoo-s1) sition of brushes and commutators at 6 o'clock p. m.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical view showing the position of brushes and commutators at 12 o'clock midnight. 5

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical view showing the position of brushes and commutato-s at 6 o'clock Fig. 8 is a diagrammatical view showing the entire circuits of my device and the relative posi- 10'- tlon of parts immediately prior to 12 o'clock noon.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatical view showing my make-and-break device and its relation to the circuits slightly after 12 o'clock noon.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatical view showing the 15 relation of parts of the make-and-break device at approximately '7 minutes after 12 o'clock noon.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatical, view showing the relative position of the make and break mechanism at approximately 11 minutes aiter 2 o'clock 20 noon.

In further detail in the drawings in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, I have provided (with particular reference to Fig. 1) a case com- 25 prising a rear wall I, a front wall 2, a cylindrical housing 3 and a base 4. 5 is a ring of insulating material carrying two series of spaced commutator bars 6 and I radially disposed and each series comprising one commutator'bar for each 30 quarter-hour division of the twelve-hour clock dial 8 and each commutator bar having an outwardly turned spring portion 9 forming switch blades. i0, ll, 12 and i3 indicate semi-circular connector-bars having outwardly turned spring 35 portions I4 forming switch blades pairing with the switch blades 9 of the commutator bars and in spaced concentric relation thereto. Openings ii are providedin the front wall 2 and similar openings it are shown in the ring I in which are slidably mounted switch rods ll of non-conductive insulating material having pull buttons I8 mounted on their outer ends and carrying metallic blocks l9 and adjacent blocks 20 of non-conductive'insulating material forming oil and on switches for optionally connecting the outwardly turned switch blades 9 and I4 whereby any commutator selected may be connected in circuit with a corresponding connector bar l0, II, I! or 13. It will be noted that commutator bars, front and 50 rear, located on the right-hand half of the clock (12 o'clock to 6 o'clock) are adarted to make connection with the semi-circular connector- .bars In and II respectively, while the front and rear commutator-bunch the left half of the 55 clock (6 oclock to 12 oclock) are connectable with connector-bars i2 and i3 respectively. It will be further observed that the outer row of pull buttons control the connection between the commutator-bars 6 (located at the rear of the ring 5) and-the connector-bars II and I3 while the inner row of pull buttons control connection between the front commutator-bars and the connector-bars l8 and I2.

Pins 2| through the inner row of switch rods act as stops limiting the outward movement of these rods while pins 22 serve a similar purpose in limiting the inward movement of the outer row oi rods. Brush holders 23, 24, 25 and 26 supporting brushes 21, 28, 28 and 30 are carried by the revolving arm 3| which is secured to the tubular shaft 32 by set screw 33 (Fig. 2). The shaft 32 is designed to be rotated throughthe arm 34 and pin 35 by the hour-hand 36 of a standard clock, preferably of the electrical type. Such a clock is indicated at 31 and is secured to the rear wall I through the flange 38 by screws.

Brushes 21 and 28 are in co-operative sliding contact with commutator-bars 1 while brushes 28 and 38 similarly cooperate with commutatorbars 6. These brushes are of such width and so associated that either pair 21-28 or 28-38 will rest exclusively on a single commutator bar when centrally positioned thereover, and when centrally located over the space between two adjacent bars one brush will contact one commutatorbarwhile the other contacts the adjacent bar. This provision is indicated graphically in Figures 9 and 10 as regards brushes 2128 co-operating with commutator-bars 1. These centralized positions occur simultaneously between brush pairs 2128 (at the front) and pairs 28-38 (at the rear). It is here noted that brush holders 24 and 26 are connected at their lower ends while holders 25 and 21 are likewise connected. Lead wires 40 and 4| are connected to holder pairs 23-25 and 24-26 respectively. Wire 48 leads to the collector ring 42 while wire 4| leads to the collector ring 43. Rings 42 and 43 are in sliding contact with brushes 44 and 45 respective-- ly which are held in insulated holder 46. Lead wires 41 and 48 are in electrical connection with flat spring members 48 and 58 respectively, thereby connecting brush 44 with spring 48, and brush 45 with spring 58. Spring members 48 and 58 carry breaker points 5| and 52 designed to make electrical 'contact with similar points 53 and 54 mounted on the metallic arm 55 which is a part of the pawl member 56. The pawl member is mounted to oscillate on pin 51 which is secured to the rear wall and insulated therefrom by the part 58. The tension of spring members 48 and 58 normally close the contact point pairs 5|-53 as well as 52-54. Wire 58 leads from pawl member 56 to terminal 68 of. switch 8| (Figs. 3 and 8) Lead wires 82, 63, 64 and 65 connect the connector-bars I2, |0, l3 and II with brush holders 66, 61, 68 and 68 (respectively) carrying brushes 1|, 12, 13 and 14. Brushes 1|, 12, 13 and 14 are in sliding contact with rotor segment 15 which is a metallic part of the collector-ring 15A rotatably mounted on stud 15B and insulated from the rear wall I by insulation 15C. The ring 15A is in sliding engagement with brush 16 held by the brush holder 16A. Lead wire 11 connects brush holder 16A with binding post 18 of switch 18A (Figs. 1 and 8). 18, 18 indicate insulation separating the brush holders 66, 61, 68 and 68 from the rear wall. Gear 88 secured to shaft 32 and in operative engagement with gear 8| rotates the latter in a 2 to 1 ratio whereby gear 8| together with the rotor segment 14 which it carries, makes a complete revolution while the gear 88 (together with the hour hand of the clock) makes two revolutions.

It will be noted that the rotor segment is of such arcuate proportions that it may contact two adjacent brushes simultaneously, as for instance 1| and 12 (Figs. 4 and 8). It will be noted that the arm 34, collector rings 42 and 43, gear 88, arm 3| (together with the brush assembly) revolve as a unit with shaft 32 once each 12 hours, as does also the hour hand 82 attached to the outer end of shaft 32. A further element of this unit is the toothed cam wheel or ratchet wheel 84 which has 48 teeth corresponding to the 48 quarter-hour periods in 12 hours. It will be noted that pawl 56 makes co-operative engagement with ratchet wheel 84 and further that a double ratcheting eiiect is secured by virtue of the long point 85 v and the short point 86 of the pawl 58. The spring 81 provides a resilient means for urging the pawl against the ratchet wheel. The stop 88 (separated from the rear wall by the insulating member 85) is adjusted to allow engagement of both pair of contacts 5|53 and 52-54 when the ratchet wheel occupies such positions that the pawl has dropped off the short point 86 (see Fig. 8) but still rests on the long point 85. This position occurs when brush pairs 21-28 and 28-38 are centrally located over the space between adjacent commutator-bars and co-incidentally with the initial stage oi the change from one quarter-hour period to the next following quarter-hour period. The operation of these parts will be more fully explained later.

Figures 1 and 2 show in addition to the parts previously ennumerated an extension 88 designed to telescope over the minute-hand pinion shaft of the ordinary clock and which carries the minute hand 82 or my device. A crystal 83 is provided to cover the dial. Decorative marking such as indicated at 85, Fig. 3, may be provided as an aid in diflerentiating the quarter-hour periods.

The operation of my device and the co-operative synchronization of parts will best be explained with reference to the diagrammatical Figures 4 to 11 in which the connector "bars II and I3 together with the commutator bars 6 corresponding to these parts which are located at the rear of ring 5 (Fig. 1) and which are employed for the night-time circuits are represented in dotted lines while the daytime circuits are represented by solid lines.

Starting with the incoming power circuit (in series with the radio) 11, Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and particularly Fig. 8, the current is led to brush 16 and collector ring 15A which is a part of the rotor segment 15, the latter being always in contact with at least one of the brushes 1|, 12, 13 or 14, each of these in turn being in electrical communication with one of the connector bars M, H, l2 or l3. Through the rotaticnoi the segment 15 periodic changes are made in the circuits (every 6 hours) by successively directing the current to different connector-bars. It will be noted that during certain portions of the revolution of the segment I5 two adjacent brushes (1| and 12,

Figs. 4 and 8; 12 and 13, Fig. 5; 13 and 14, Fig. 6,

and 14 and 1|, Fig. 7) are in contact with the rotor segment 15. These periods of dual contact occur during and overlapping thetime when a change is made from one 6-hour period to the next 8-hour period and serves to provide a circuit to the connector-bar corresponding with the onnection with the connector-bar corresponding to the off-going 6-hour period until after the actual use of that circuit is ended.

From the connector-bars the circuit is provided through selective switches II to commutator bars 6 and I and thence through the brushes 21, 28, 29 and to lead wires 4| and 4|.

In Fig 4 (representing the time at 12 o'clock noon),it will be noted that (assuming that all switches 19 are closed) a circuit will be provided only through connector bars II and I2 and thence through brushes 21 and 2| to lead wires 4| and 4|. Should the switches co-operating with the commutator bars representing 11:45 a. m. and 12 o'clock noon be open no circuit would be made even though the adjacent night-time" switches are on," inasmuch as the connector bars with which the night-time" switches co-operate are not in circuit with the rotor 15.

Similar explanation applies to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 which represent the time at 8 p. m., 12 midnight and 6 a. m. respectively.

current is shifted from the daytime connectorbar III to the night-time connector bar ll, while at 6 p; m. (Fig. '7), the night-time connector-bar II is exchanged for the day-time bar 12. Thus the 24 hour day is divided into 4 periods of 6 hours each and a connector bar is provided for each 6-hour period. Power connection to these connector-bars being provided in alternating order permits at least two of them being out of circuit at all times. through the selective switches II to commutator bars 6 and I as desired and the current is picked up by the brushes 21, 28, 28 and III (as the latter are rotated) and carried to lead wires and 4|.

With reference to Fig. 8 (representing the time at slightly before 12 o'clock noon) 9. further extension of the circuit will be explained. From lead wires 40 and 41 the current passes to collector rings 42 and 43 respectively and through brushes 44 and 45 thence through wires 41 and 48 to springs 49 and 50 to contact points 8i and 52 which are contactable with points It and 84 whereby the current is directed through pawl II the points of the ratchet wheel 44, thereby allowing both pairs of contact points SI-ll and 52- 54 to make contact and allowing the current to flow through both brushes 2'! and 2! (assuming the 11:45 a. m. and 12 oclock noon switches to be closed), thereby preparing to exchange the.

circuit through brush 24 for one through brush 21 without a break in the circuit. (It will be understood that Just prior to this time the pawl point It was resting on top of the ratchet tooth and therefore points Bi-SI were disconnected,

current being supplied only through brush 2.)

Fig. 9 represents the time at slightly after 12 o'clock noon and in which it will be noted that the long point 0! of the pawl I. has dropped 01! the point of the ratchet wheel tooth allowing the Attention is called,- however, to the fact that at 6 p. m. (Fig. 5) the The circuit is extended contact points 82-84 to suddenly separate and discontinue the circuit through brush 2| while allowing it to continue through brush 21 (still assuming the 11:45 a. m. and 12 o'clock noon switches to be "on"). I Passing to Fig. 10, representing the time at "approximately 7 minutes after 12 o'clock noon,

it is found that both brushes 21 and 28 are contacting the same commutator bar and that as the ratchet wheel has correspondingly rotated, 10

the sloping side of the next tooth has lifted the pawl to allow contact between points 52 and 54 in addition to the contact already made between points 5| and 53, whereby a divided circuit is provided for the current through both brushes ll 21 and 28. It is to be noted here that this newly made circuit through points 52 and 54 is never actually completed throughout the device unless the circuit through points Ill and 52 is also completed, therefore the slowness in closing the 40 points 52 and 54 has no detrimental consequences. With reference to Fig. 11, representing the time at approximately 11 minutes after 12 o'clock noon, it is observed that the pawl 58 has been.

raised to cause points II and 53 to separate ll thereby transferring the current entirely through brush 2!. This change actually takes place before brush 21 reaches a new commutator bar. As shown in Fig. 11 the brushes have advanced near the position where a further movement will allow 00 the short point 86 of the pawl to drop ofl the ratchet tooth and allow sudden contact with points ii and 53 to make a new circuit through brush 21. This actually takes place after the brush 21 has cleared the commutator bar repre- 26 senting 12 o'clock noon and will connect com-' mutator-bar representing 12:15 p. 111. (provided the corresponding switch is on"). I

It will be noted that if we assume the 11:45 o'clock day-time switch (Fig. 8) to be 011" and o the 12 o'clock noon switch on no circuit would have been provided until the short point 06 of the pawl has dropped off the tooth as shown when suddenly contact would have been made through brush 21, this occurring preferably 1 or 2 min-- utes prior to the exact beginning of the program period" to allow the radio to "warm up" and assure the user complete coverage of the first part of the program.

Again at the endof a selected program (aso suming the following quarter hour period is not desired) it is found that connection is maintained until slightly after the actual program closing time" due to the fact that the long point I! of the pawl does not drop of! the tooth of the ratchet wheel until slightly (preferably 1 or 2 minutes) after the exact program closing time." See In my device I have provided means whereby high resistance circuits (such as would be caused by slow contacts) are eliminated and likewise fluctuation in resistance is avoided by providing ample contact area at all times.

I have provided a device in which all makeand-break operations are performed by a master mechanism that is not likely to get out of adjustment, that will allow long continued use and that is'easily and economically replaced.

Due to the fact that the sliding brushes of my device undergo no make-and-break operations no 10 undue wear of these parts is incurred.

Through my arrangement of parts I have provided a time switch having the selective switches arranged in conventional order around the clock face and having the day and night switches in u separate rows whereby it is easy to select the desired program or programs. Due to the 24 hour arrangement of my device it seldom requires resetting or attention once the desired program periods are selected; especially in the case of those tuning to the same station throughout the day.

I claim:

1. A radio timing device comprising a clock driven shaft designed to revolve once each 12 hours, a revolving commuting ring carrying a sector switch blade, geared means for synchronizing the rotation of the switch blade and the clock driven shaft whereby the switch blade will revolve once while the clock driven shaft makes two revo-' lutions, two series of independent commutator bars, each series having a commutator bar for each quarter hour of the 12-hour clock dial, each series being arranged concentrically around said clock driven shaft, the bars of each series being divided into groups of adjacent bars, a connector bar for each group, independent switch means .for optionally connecting any commutator with a corresponding connector bar, means for successively connecting said connector bars with said revolving commuting ring, said means comprising radially spaced stationary brushes designed to be successively contacted by said sector switch blade, brush means for connecting said ring with an electrical source, brush means revolving with said clock driven shaft, said means comprising two sets of brushes, each set comprising two interconnected brushes, one brush each set being in sliding engagement with the bars of one series of commutator bars and the other such brush being in sliding engagement with the other series of commutator bars, one of said sets'of brushes being in advance rotative relation to the other set, means for alternately connectingthe sets of brushes with the radio, said means comprising dual breaker points and breaker means synchronized with said clockdriven'shaft.

2. A radio time switch comprising brush means designed to be rotated about a center by an ordinary clock means, two sets of commutator bars, each set comprising radially spaced commutator bars in concentric relation to said center, each set of commutator bars being divided into two groups, each group having an adjacent connectorbar, each commutator bar of a group having independent optional switching means whereby to connect any of said commutator bars in the group to said connector-bar, means synchronized with said rotating brush means for directing a radio power circuit through alternate connectorbars, said rotating brush means comprising two sets of brushes, each set comprising two brushes, one set being in advance rotative relation to the other, one brush of each set being in sliding engagement with one set or commutator bars and the other brush of each set being in sliding engagement with the other set of commutator bars and means for alternately connecting and disconnecting the circuit through said brush sets, said last named means being synchronized with said rctative movement of said brush means whereby a cycle of alternation is produced while the brush sets are traversing the space occupied by one commutator bar.

3. A radio time switch comprising a clock driven commutating means, individual selective switches for each quarter hour of the 24-hour day, said switches being divided into groups, the switches of each group having one side thereof in common connection, means synchronized with said commutating means for periodically connecting different groups of said switches to one radio power terminal through said common connection, said commutating means being designed to periodically direct current from a power line to diflerent individual switches.

4. In a radio timing switch having a clock driven commutator means for directing periodically a power circuit through different selective switches, dual brush means on said commutator said brush means comprising an advanced brush and a lagging. brush, a dual make and break switching means, said means having a power-line connection and having two commutator connections, one of 'said connections being in circuit with said advanced brush and the other of said connections being in circuit with said lagging brush, said dual switching means being designed to be operatively synchronized with said commutator means and being designed to periodically and alternately direct the power circuit through said advanced brush and said lagging brush, said switching means being designed to make the circuit with the advanced brush prior to breaking the circuit with the lagging brush, said switching meai 5 being designed to make the circuit-with the lagging brush prior to breaking the the advanced brush. v

. GUY H. DE LARM.

circuit with 

